Inexpensive sharpener

G

ghorn11

Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
12
Hello all,

I am fairly new to obsessing over knives, although I have been carrying a SAK for years. I have a very inexpensive Smiths hand sharpener that simply has a carbide slot and ceramic slot. When I look at the edge after sharpening it is very uneven and wavy - I am not happy with the outcome. In your opinion, what is the best sharpener for someone on a super budget? I am a grad student with hardly a dime to my name but want to start caring for my knives properly. I would greatly appreciate the advice!
 
Depends on what you mean by limited budget. Spyderco Sharpmaker would be good move for you. Falknivin D2 small freehand stone.
 
I generally use a medium diamond stone 6x2" about $30 and a fine ceramic stone 4x2" I got at a show for a steal at $3. BUT freehand sharpenong takes practice.
 
A budget of $1 can last you a long time (practically a lifetime) and get you very sharp

There are combination sharpening stones for $1 , some crumble too easy, some not at all, both can work ... test in store with thumbnail/pencil:) ... harbor freight has some (on sale now), dollar tree ,... if you can find them locally ... its plenty of stone to get plenty sharp (take off some hair)

Then also if you can get it locally is $1 pack of assorted grits of sandpaper (silicon carbide or aluminum oxide work fine, sic for ceramic knives :) ... harbor freight has a sale on that too
if its not wet/dry don't use water on it, and it should still last a good long time
cut into 1inch strips (10-11 strips), glue/clamp to a flat stick (wood, ruler, whatever ... make sure its flat and corners arent raised),
it should last you a good long while... like 100-200+ sharpenings per strip (1000-2000+ per sheet), and there can be 10-15 sheets in a pack in 3-5 different grits ... finer sheets last longer, coarser sheets become finer :)
 
I'll second the recommendations made by others. Cheap hardware store combination stone, cheap diamond plate from Amazon or Harbor Freight, silicon carbide sandpaper for finishing.

If these are still too much for ya, use unglazed ceramic or "earthen ware", like the unglazed ring on the bottom of some coffee mugs. I've flipped over the lid on the back of a toilet tank & sharpened many knives on that. I found a piece of sand stone in a creek, then rubbed it on the concrete on my back porch to flatten it. Etched or frosted glass can work, too. Some halogen light bulbs have a ceramic part that works like a crock stick. Stop by Lowe's and you can probably find a big piece of ceramic bathroom tile that's unglazed on the bottom, for a few cents. (Many of these would need to be rubbed together lightly first to knock off any high spots or stray large grit.) If you have any tools around that have been hard chromed (like a socket wrench or screw driver), they can work like a butcher's steel to realign the burr on your edge. Use an old belt for a strop. Sprinkle sand on a flat board or old tire/piece of rubber for coarser stropping. The world around us is full of abrasives & stuff harder than steel, so use your mind and skill, and you'll never be without a sharpener.
 
Great suggestions from The Possum. I especially like the toilet tank top one.

I haven't seen them for a while, but a Japanese version of the dollar store (Daiso, dollar and a half stuff) used to have some sharpening stones for cheap. Pretty nice ones too.

Ric
 
An India stone and hard arkansas can be obtained for under $30 from Amazon. Used this setup for years. As Lon as you don't have high vanadium or some other difficult to sharpen steel it will do just fine.
 
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